Club head retaining means for golf club bags



Feb. 24, 1-948. R CORBETT CLUB HEAD RETAINING MEANS FOR GOLF CLUB BAGS I Filed Feb. 1 1945 2 Sheets Sheet l v F/ 1a- Feb..24, 194s. R. L. CORBETT 2,436,687

CLUB HEAD RETAINING MEANS FOfi GOLF CLUB BAGS I MWT'WM Patented Feb. 24, 1948 CLUB HEAD RETAINING MEANS FOR GOLF CLUB BAGS Robert Lee Corbett, Lakewood, Ohio Application February 1, 1945, Serial No. 575,598

3 Claims. (oi. 150-15) My invention relates to golf club bags and relates more particularly to golf club supporting and retaining means associated with such bags.

It is an object of my invention to provide improved means for the individual suspension and support of each club.

Another object of my invention is to provide improved suspension and support means for each .club of the so-called iron type whereby any damage to the club heads is prevented and any shifting of such clubs in the golf bag is totally eliminated.

A further object of my invention is to provide .such improved golf club supporting and retaining means as may be detachably secured to any preferred golf bag.

As a further object of my invention, I contemplate the provision of club positioning means associated with the open mouth of a golf bag and adapted to be employed as a mounting for said improved club supporting and retaining member.

Another object of my invention is to provide improved means for mounting the golf clubs in predetermined and systematic order so that any desired club may be conveniently and easily selected.

Another object of my invention is to provide improved means for positioning the golf clubs in such manner as to equalize the load of such clubs in a golf bag and to maintain such balance throughout the use of such bag; whether the same be in the course of transportation and necessary movement about a golf course, during the playing of golf, or stored in a locker, as during non plying intervals.

Further objects of my invention and the invention itself will become more apparent by reference to the following specification and the Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, illustrating wedging action of a club head when the bag is in normal carrying position.

Referring now to the drawings, in all of which like parts are designated by like reference char acters, at A I indicate generally a golf bag preferably formedoi leather, canvas, or like material, provided with a lower cuif and base portion I securely afiixed thereto, which base portion is preferably formed of molded plastic material. The base portion 1 is further provided with a pair of angular-1y disposed leg portions 9 integrally molded therewith, said leg portions 9 being provided with wear resistant metallic buttons or lugs l0 and assisting the upright 12 as a support for maintaining the bag in standing or upright position.

The upright l2 and various novel features of the bag generally are more particularly described in co-pending applications of this applicant, viz., Serial Nos. 575,600 and 575,599, both having been filed February 1, 1945, the latter now abandoned.

A bag handle l5 and strap [6, both preferably also formed of plastic material, and a golf ball pocket I l and utility compartment 22 for hood, shoes, and the like, are likewise provided for the bag, in a manner well known. in the art. In addition to such features, a novel stay apron 2|, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, and as further described in a co-pending application of this same applicant, Serial No. 575,600, filed February 1, 194.5, and an upper cuff 5, of molded plastic material similar to that employed for the lower molded base element I, are provided.

The plastic upper cuff of my invention, as

shown, is provided with a pair of stay slots o5 similar to the stay slots 8-8 provided within the base I and said pairs of slots 6-6 and 8-8, when the bag is assembled, are disposed in alignment to permit the seating in such slots of thebag stays 25 to form the framework for the bag whereby the bag material may be securely anchored by the portions 5, l, and stays 25, to form a generally elongated rectangular rigid bag structure Referring now more particularly to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, it will be noted that the golf bag of my invention contemplates the provision of the individual placement, suspension and support of each of the clubs, commonly called standard irons with the exception of the putter, by means of a wedge type supporting element l positioned adjacent the mouth of the bag. The supporting element I so disposed is, in the form of my invention herein shown, preferably formed of plastic material, and as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, is generally tapered from a relatively short end 1: to a relatively taller opposite end y; the element I, as shown in the drawings, is disposed generally transversely of the mouth of the bag A and at one side thereof, and is secured to the cuff 5 by means of screws 2 associated with the element l and screw threaded into the cuff 5, as shown, and by means of a stud 25 secured thereto by a forwardly extending lip 21 of the element 1. The said element I may also be molded integral with the cuff 5, if desired.

Likewise disposed generally transversely of the mouth of the bag is a plastic index strip 2 formed into a suitable number of compartments 2a, as shown in Fig. 3, for the accommodation of woods and special irons. The said strip 2 is also attached to the cuff 5 as is the element l, the strip 2 being secured thereto by studs 5' or the like.

The club supporting and retaining member l of my invention is provided with a plurality of upstanding fingers I, each finger being tapered to conform to the taper of the face of a preferred club head (of the "iron type) with which it is to be associated, and, to further adapt each finger to closely retain the associated club head in contact therewith, a trough I or groove, is provided in each said finger 1 within which replaceable wedge type fitting strips I may be placed.

These fitting strips or bumpers, as they might well be described, are preferably formed of resilient material, such as rubber, or plastic material, and are shaped to conform to the shape of the trough and to the back contour of the club head on their forward face. They are further adapted to be so tightly press-fitted into the troughs I that they are securely retained within the said troughs and are adapted to wedgingly engage the club head to tightly hold the same between each adjacent pair of fingers l' whereby displacement of said club head therebetween is impossible without the application of considerable force, as by manual pressure, as best shown in Fig. 3, the strips l are preferably of considerable width and contact a considerable extent of the club head to securely grip the club head to be associated therewith and to counteract any torsional action.

Furthermore, it is contemplated that different size wedge strips or fitting strips I may be employed as desired for different size club heads wherefor a definite size strip may be used with a predetermined type of club head so that as secure a seating of the club head between the adjacent fingers may be afforded as is possible.

It will be noted that the wedge supporting element l is located on the right hand side of the cuff in relation to the bag handle to accommodate right hand clubs, and, in the event that left hand clubs be employed, the supporting element I will then be mounted on the left hand side of 4 the cuff in relation to the bag handle l5. Hence, when the bag is being transported, as shown in Fig. 5, the wedging action is increased rather than lessened.

A guard rail I may further be provided, as shown in connection with the wedge support element l of these figures, said rail protecting the club heads carried by said element when the bag is placed on the ground or placed against a wall or the like. A strap 1 may also be provided,

, fingers, and the bag is completely assembled for the form of Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive. The apron, it can be seen, serves the useful purpose of dividing the bag into two compartments, whereby two rows of club shafts may be accommodated.

It should be noted that the bumpers or fitting strips i may be replaced as new and different clubs may be desired placed within the bag and in the club head supporting element I and different size bumpers may be utilized as required by the particular clubs to be used in connection therewith.

Certain features of the golf bag apart from those herein described are described and claimed in my copending applications for Letters Patent, Serial Nos. 575,600 and 575,599, both having been filed February 1, 1945.

Although I have described my invention in connection with a preferred embodiment thereof, I am, of course, aware that numerous and extensive departures could be made therefrom without, however. departing from the spirit of my invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Club head supporting means for golf bags comprising a plurality of upwardly extending fingers, eachof said fingers having a generally vertically disposed face and a tapered face, said vertically disposed face having a groove disposed therein, a wedge element having a vertically disposed rear portion adapted to be inserted and lockingly seated within the said groove and having a protruding nose portion adapted to engage the back of a club head to be positioned between the said vertically disposed face of each said finger and the tapered face of each adjacent finger, said wedge element being adapted to lockingly engage the said club head to securely maintain the same in its allocated position.

2. Club head supporting means for golf bags comprising a wedge supporting element, said element being disposed transversely of the mouth of said golf bag and secured thereto, said wedge supporting element being provided with a plurality of upstanding fingers tapered to conform to the taper of the face of a club head to be associated therewith, each finger being provided with a groove, a, removable wedge type strip adapted to be inserted within said groove and to contact the back contour of the said club head, said wedge supporting element to be positioned on the right hand side of the bag in relation to a bag handle therefor when righthand clubs are to 6 be used whereby a, positive wedging action when REFERENCES CITED carrying the bag is secured. Th i 3. Club head supporting means for golf bags file i l g s fi are of record m the comprising a plurality of upwardly extending fingers, each of said fingers having a groove dis- UNITED STATES PATENTS posed therein, a bumper element adapted to be inserted and lockingly seated within the said 7 fgig f f groovev and having a protruding nose p rti n 1849610 Boyce 1932 adapted to engage the back of a club head to be 1 951 158 Locke Jeff; 555M113 1934 positioned between the said bumper retaining 10 1, 1 Smith l Dec 1935 finger and the confronting face of an adjacent 207o254 Burgner 1937 finger, said bumper element being adapted to lockingly engage the said club head to securely FOREIGN PATENTS maintain the same in its allocated seated posi- Number Country Date 191011- 15 347,581 Great Britain Apr. 24, 1931 ROBERT LEE CORBE'IT. 

